AMENDED  RULES 


REVISED  AND  APPROVED  BY  THE  FOREIGN  MISSION  BOARD  OF 
THE  SOUTHERN  BAPTIST  CONVENTION. 

RICHMOND,  VA.,  1906. 


PREAMBLE. 

il  is  distinctly  understood  that  the  relation  existing  between  the  Board  and 
their  missionaries  is  voluntary,  and  of  the  most  fraternal  character.  In  his  ap¬ 
pointment,  the  missionary  is  pledged  to  continue  in  his  work  through  life,  unless 
otherwise  specified,  while  the  obligation  of  the  Board  to  continue  their  patronage 
is  equally  solemn  and  binding.  The  compact  can  be  dissolved  by  neither  party, 
excepting  for  reasons  valid  and  weighty.  If  the  missionary  should  prove  unsound 
in  bis  religious  views,  or  deficient  in  his  moral  character,  or,  on  any  other  account 
unqualified  for  the  useful  pursuance  of  his  work,  the  Board  possesses  the  inherent 
right  to  dissolve  the  connection.  On  the  other  hand,  the  right  to  withdraw,  for 
sufficient  reasons,  is  possessed  by  the  missionary. 

The  relation  being  formed  on  this  basis,  the  following  rules  are  agreed  on 
between  the  Board  and  the  Missionaries: 

Article  I. — Work  and  Organization  of  Missionaries, 

1.  The  oral  communication  of  the  gospel,  the  formation  of  the  chuiches,  the 
training  and  ordination  of  a  native  ministry,  the  translation  and  circulation  of 
the  Scriptures,  and  the  extension  of  missionary  work  by  the  aid  of  nativi-.  laborers 
supported,  as  far  as  practicable,  by  the  natives  themselves,  shall  be  regarded  as 
the  chief  business  of  our  missionaries. 

2.  The  Board  shall  have  the  right  to  constitute  the  missionaries  of  a  station, 
or  district,  into  a  mission,  to  act  as  their  agent  within  the  limits  assigned,  or  to 
hold  each  missionary  directly  responsible  to  the  Board,  or,  in  a  given  district,  to 
constitute  several  independent  missions,  with  a  missionary  coveniently  located, 
to  act  as  treasurer  for  them  all.  But  in  all  cases  due  regard  shall  be  had  to  the 
wishes  of  the  missionaries  to  be  affected  thereby. 

3.  Each  mission  established  by  the  Board  shall  hold  stated  meetings,  at  such 
times  and  places  as  the  mission  shall  appoint,  for  prayer,  consultation  and  busi¬ 
ness. 

4.  Every  missionary  shall  devote  himself  earnestly  to  the  w'ork,  and  shall  en¬ 
gage  in  no  secular  business,  judged  by  the  mission  of  the  Board  to  be  injurious 
to  his  character  or  usefulness. 

5.  No  missionary  shall  change  his  station  without  the  consent  of  the  mission 
or  the  Board,  nor  shall  the  station  of  a  missionary  be  changed  without  his  consent. 

6.  Each  missionary  shall  transmit  to  the  Board,  quarterly,  a  detailed  account 
of  hrs  labors,  and  each  mission  shall  report  annually  on  the  first  day  of  January, 
the  result  of  its  operation,  giving  a  table  of  statistics,  made  up  to  the  31st  of 
December  preceding,  showing  the  baptisms,  exclusions,  and  deaths,  together  with 
the  total  membership  in  the  church  or  churches  connected  with  the  mission;  the 
number  of  schools  for  males,  for  females,  and  for  both  sexes,  with  the  average  at¬ 
tendance  in  each,  during  the  session,  the  amount  contributed  in  cash  or  in  kind 
by  natives  and  by  others,  for  the  support  of  schools,  native  teachers,  evangelists. 


or  pastors,  and  also  the  number  of  school  houses  and  chapels,  if  any,  ereffcted 
during  the  year,  and  the  cost  of  the  same. 

7.  There  shall  be,  not  later  thp^n  August,  an  annual  meeting  of  each  mission, 
at  which  an  estimate  of  appropriations  for  the  ensuing  year  shall  be  made  and  sub¬ 
mitted  to  the  Board,  specifying,  as  far  as  practicable,  the  items  for  which  funds 
are  required,  and  the  missionary  for  whom  needed.  Unassociated  missionaries  shall 
send  annually,  not  later  than  August,  their  own  estimates.  The  estimate  of  each 
year  shall  be  for  all  missionary,  school  or  other  work  of  the  mission,  with  a  state¬ 
ment  of  what  amount,  if  any,  may  be  expected  from  other  sources,  on  the  field, 
at  homo  or  elsewhere,  in  order  that  the  appropriation  of  the  Board  may  be  adapted, 
if  possible,  fully  and  exactly  to  the  needs  of  the  mission. 

8.  The  appointment  of  unmarried  women  as  missionaries  shall  have  reference 
to  the  views  of  the  mission  to  which  they  are  sent,  as  to  the  need  and  acceptability 
of  such  assistants. 

9.  Each  missionary  shall,  after  one  year  spent  in  the  field,  be  examined  upon 
his  ability  to  speak,  read  and  write  the  language.  And  again,  at  the  end  of  the 
second  year,  he  shall  be  examined.  Should  the  examination  prove  unsatisfactory 
at  the  end  of  the  sceond  year,  he  sha’’  be  given  another  examination  at  the  end  of 
the  third  year.  Written  reports  of  the  results  of  these  examinations  shall  be  sent 
to  the  Board.  The  scope  and  manner  of  conducting  these  examinations  shall  be 
planned  by  each  mission  and  submitted  to  the  Board  for  approval. 


Article  II. — Salaries  and  Support  of  Missionaries. 

1.  Salaries  shall  be  fixed  according  to  all  the  information  the  Board  can  get, 
the  following  rates  being  a  general  guide:  ^ 0  U 


In  A5i;ica3  China  and  Mexico  for  a  single  missionary  for  a  married  mis- 

for  a  single  missionary 


W- 


sionary  In  Argentina,  Chile,  Italy  and  Japan  $ 

and  $1,400  for  a  married  missionary.  In  Brazil,  for  a  single  missionary 

/  b  6  i  I 

a  married  missionary,  $l,riQ0'  with  an  allowance  in  all  cases  of  $100  a  year  for 
each  child  up  to  ten  years  old.  and  of  $150  from  ten  to  twenty  years  old.  Any 
deviation  from  these  rates  must  be  for  good^nd  sufficient  reasons,  and  by  special 
agreement. 

2.  The  salary  of  the  missionary  shall  begin  on  his  arrival  at  the  field  of  labor 
he  is  expected  to  occupy,  and  all  needful  expenses  in  getting  to  his  field  shall  be 
borne  by  the  Board. 

3.  The  salary  is  intended  to  cover  the  personal  expenses  of  a  mi.ssionary  and 
his  family.  House  rent,  postage  on  official  letters,  travelling  expenses  in  the 
prosecution  of  missionary  labors,  the  salary  of  a  teacher  for  instruction  in  the 
language  to  be  acquired,  text  books,  and  other  expenses  incident  to  his  work,  shall 
be  met  either  by  special  appropriation,  or  from  the  common  fund  of  the  mission 
with  which  his  work  is  connected. 

4.  All  missionaries,  supported  by  the  Board,  with  their  wives  and  children, 
shall  be  considered  as  having  claim  on  the  mission  fund  for  equal  support  in  simi¬ 
lar  circustances.  The  wives  of  missionaries,  in  all  suitable  cases,  will  be  regarded 
as  assistant  missionaries,  and,  as  far  as  their  domestic  duties  allow,  will  be  ex¬ 
pected  to  contribute  especially  by  instructing  natives  of  their  sex  to  the  advance¬ 
ment  ot  the  work  and  interests  of  the  mission. 

5.  Missionaries  who  support  themselves  from  their  own  income  may  be  mis¬ 
sionaries  of  the  Board  equally  with  those  who  receive  pecuniary  support,  and  in 
such  cases  must  be  equally  subject  to  the  instructions  and  regulations  of  the  Board. 

6.  No  missionary  shall  abandon  his  station  or  return  to  the  United  States, 
even  at  his  own  expense,  except  on  account  of  sickness  of  himself  or  family,  with- 


ouj  permission  of  the  Board;  and  in  the  cases  excepted,  the  sanction  of  the  mis¬ 
sion  shall  be  obtained,  when  the  individual  is  a  member  of  a  mission.  The  neces¬ 
sary  expense  of  a  return  home  will  be  borne  by  the  Board  only  in  accordance  with 
this  rule.  The  salary  of  missionaries  leaving  their  fields  without  the  consent  of 
the  Board  shall  cease  from  the  time  they  leave  their  fields. 

7.  While  no  period  of  labor  is  specified  before  a  missionary  shall  leave  his 
field  to  recruit  his  strength,  the  Board  will  have  regard  to  the  necessity  of  such 
change  to  preserve  the  health  and  secure  the  greatest  efficiency  of  its  missionaries. 

8.  Missionaries  returning  to  the  home-land  on  leave,  as  provided  in  Sections 
6  and  7,  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  monthly  such  sum  as  they  may  need  for 
support  and  recuperation,  provided  same  shall  not  exceed  $1,200  per  annum  for 
man  and  wife  and  the  regular  allowance  for  children,  and  $600  per  annum  for  an 
unmarried  missionai’y;  and  provided  further,  that  it  shall  not,  without  special 
action  of  the  Board,  be  continued  more  than  twelve  months. 

9.  Disabled  missionaries,  or  the  widows  of  missionaries,  returning  to  remain 
in  this  country,  with  the  approbation  of  the  Board,  and  being  in  destitute  circum¬ 
stances,  may  receive  such  special  appropriations  as  the  nature  of  the  case  shall 
justify,  it  being  understood  that  no  annuities  or  pensions  are  to  be  settled  on  any 
persons,  or  grants  made  for  any  other  than  the  current  year,  excepting  in  those 
cases  where  allowance  is  made  for  the  children  of  missionaries. 


Article  III. — Treasurers,  Drafts,  Accounts,  Self-Support. 


1.  The  Board  shall  appoint  the  treasurer  of  each  mission,  or  of  several  inde¬ 
pendent  missions.  But  in  case  of  a  vacancy,  the  mission  or  the  several  indepen¬ 
dent  missions,  shall  have  the  power  to  appoint  pro  tern. 

2.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  these  treasurers  to  hold  all  funds  and  other  assets 
belonging  to  the  Board,  subject  to  their  order,  under  the  regulation  herein  pro¬ 
vided. 


8.  Salaries  of  missionaries  and  special  appropriations  may  be  paid  quarterly, 
in  advance,  unless  a  shorter  period  is  specified  by  the-, Board,  upon  the  receipt  of 
the  missionary  for  whom  they  are  designated.  No  other  payments  shall  be  made 
except  by  order  of  the  mission  or  the  Board. 


'  4.  Each  missionary  shall  render  to  the  mission  a  quarterly  account  of  all 

moneys,  except  for  salary  drawn  by  him  from  the  treasury. 

5.  In  no  case  shall  appropriations  made  for  oiie  object  be  applied  to  another, 
except  by  the  consent  of  the  Board,  nor  shall  a  mission  or  misssionary  contract 
debt  in  the  name  of  the  Board,  unless  from  actual  necessity. 

6.  The  annual  appropriation  of  the  board  for  each  mission  shall  be  made  in 
dollars  and  cents,  and  may  be  drawn  by  its  treasurer,  quarterly  in  advance,  un¬ 
less  a  shorter  period  is  specified  by  the  Board,  but  for  no  longer  period  ihan  one 
quarter,  it  being  understood  that  any  violation  of  this  rule,  or  over-draft  of  the 
appropriation  for  the  quarter  or  for  the  year,  may  be  sufficient  reason  for  either  the 
dimissal  of  the  treasurer  from  his  ti'easurership,  or  the  withdrawal  from  the  mis¬ 
sion  or  combined  missions,  of  the  privilege  of  drawing  for  appropriations  of  the 
Board. 

7.  Each  draft  on  the  treasurer  of  the 'Board  shall  be  in  dollars  and  cents,  and 
shall  be  accompanied  by  a  notice  from  the  treasurer  of  the  mission  or  missions, 
advising  our  treasurer  of  the  said  draft,  its  amount,  date,  number,  in  whose  favor, 
and  for  what  account  drawn,  according  to  a  printed  form  which  shall  be  pro¬ 
vided  by  the  Board,  as  well  as  a  form  for  the  drafts  themselves. 

8.  Each  treasurer  shall  make  to  the  Board  an  annual  financial  report,  so 
itemized  as  to  show  all  funds  received  from  all  sources  for  mission  work,  and  the 


I 


persons  to  whom,  and  the  objects  for  which  all  payments  have  been  made,  §jid 
so  closed  as  to  indicate  clearly  that  the  drafts  and  expenditures  have  come  within 
the  appropriation  tor  the  year  then  closed,  in  order  to  avoid  the  confusion  in¬ 
cident  to  drafts  or  expenses  of  one  year  over-lapping  the  accounts  of  another" 
year. 

9.  The  financial  accounts  and  reports  of  all  the  missions  shall  be  closed  on  the 
31sc  of  December  of  each  year.  The  annual  appropriations  made  by  the  Board 
shall  be  for  the  calendar  year  following,  namely,  for  the  year  from  the  next  Janu¬ 
ary  1st  to  December  31st  subsequent.  Additional  appropriations  may  be  made 
when  demanded  by  changed  circumstances  in  any  mission. 

10.  Appeals  of  missionaries  for  pecuniary  aid  for  work  on  their  field  must 
be  for  objects  for  which  the  Board  make  appropriations,  unless  permission  to 
the  contrary  be  given  by  the  Board.  Thus  the  missionaries,  while  assisting  to 
maintain  their  own  wmrk,  may  assist  the  Board  also,  who  are  pledged  for  its 
support,  and  must  support  it  whether  they  have  funds  in  the  treasury  or  not; 

11.  Missionaries  must  encourage  native  Christians  in  self-support,  as  far  as 
pos.sible,  especially  in  the  education  of  their  children,  the  payment  of  native  teach¬ 
ers  and  preachers,  the  defraying  of  church  expenses,  and  the  aiding  of  poor  saints. 
This  self-support  of  native  churches  is  an  end  which  our  missionaries  should  never 
lose  sight  of,  and  for  the  establishment  of  which  they  must  constantly  labor. 

12.  In  buying  land  and  building  houses  in  the  various  mission  fields,  in  every 
case  a  committee  of  at  least  three  male  missionaries  shall  compose  the  buying  and 
building  committee,  and  there  must  be  practical  unanimity  in  this  committee 
before  any  piece  of  land  is  purchased  or  plans  for  a  building  are  acccepted. 

13.  The  funds  received  by  our  medical  missionaries  for  professional  services 
shall  be  paid  to  the  treasurer  of  the  mission  with  the  understanding  that  a  part 
or  the  whole  of  such  funds  can  be  used  by  the  physician  in  charge  for  purposes 
of  the  medical  work,  as  approved  by  the  mission.  In  such  cases,  the  treasurer 
of  the  mission  is  expected  to  make  report  to  the  Board  of  such  receipts  and  ex¬ 
penditures. 


Article  IV. — These  Rules — Charges  and  Changes. 

1.  Before  receiving  his  appointment  by  the  Board,  each  missionary  is  expected 
to  read  and  subscribe  to  these  rules. 

2.  If  any  member  of  a  mission  persist  in  violating  any  of  the  above  regula¬ 
tions,  it  shall  be  the  indispensable  duty  of  the  mission  to  give,  with  his  knowledge, 
full  information  to  the  Board.  In  the  case  of  a  missionary  belonging  to  no  mis¬ 
sion,  this  rule  shall  be  observed  by  the  mission  nearest  to  him.  But  no  informa¬ 
tion  or  charges  affecting  the  Christian  character  of  a  missionary  shall  be  made 
a  basis  of  action  by  the  Board  until  they  shall  have  communicated  the  said  in¬ 
formation  or  charges,  with  the  names  of  the  authors,  to  the  accused,  and  given 
him  ample  opportunity  for  explanation  and  defence. 

3.  Native  assistants,  whether  teachers  or  preachers,  supported  by  the  Board 
or  connected  officially  with  any  mission  or  missionary,  shall  be  subject  to  such 
regulations  as  the  Board  may  from  time  to  time  adopt;  any  thing  in  the  above 
rules  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding.  , 

4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Board  to  inform  the  missionaries  of  any  changes 
made  in  these  rules,  and  get  their  assent  as  promptly  as  possible. 

(Name  of  Missionary) _ 


(Date) 


